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Dynasty

We can preach democracy abroad and defend the hereditary principle at home because the Queen shows they can co-exist

June 6 2012, 1:01am, The Times

The past three days have revealed many things about our leaders and celebrities. One is that few of them know all the words to the National Anthem, which, in a verse almost never sung, asks God to scatter the Queen’s enemies. Another is that she has amazingly few enemies.

On Sunday Britain’s leading republican pressure group, Republic, invited supporters to demonstrate against the jubilee celebrations on the green space between Tower Bridge and City Hall in London. About 60 people showed up. When they shouted “Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie, Out, Out, Out,” they were drowned out by “God Save The Queen”. Outside London, republican activism has been even thinner on the ground.